China has revealed one of its most advanced missile defense weapons after more than 15 years of development. The system, called the HQ-29, was showcased during a major national parade and quickly caught global attention. It is designed to intercept dangerous missiles far above the Earth, in the near-space region outside the atmosphere.
A New Player in High-Altitude Missile Defense
To explain it simply, the HQ-29 can hit missiles that are travelling through space during the middle part of their flight, known as the mid-course phase. This is one of the most difficult moments to stop a missile, because it is moving extremely fast and travelling outside the atmosphere. Only a few countries in the world have the technology to attempt these interceptions, and China is now officially one of them.
What makes the HQ-29 even more interesting is that it fills the highest layer of China’s multi-level missile defense shield. Lower levels, such as the HQ-9B and HQ-19, focus on jets or short-range missiles. But the HQ-29 is built to stop longer-range ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which are among the most dangerous weapons in the world.
Inside the HQ-29: Design, Range and Capabilities
Although China has not publicly released full technical details, military magazines and television reports inside the country have shared important information about the system.
The HQ-29 is mounted on a large six-axle mobile launcher. This means the launcher can drive to different locations rather than being stuck in one place. Mobility is a major advantage because it makes the system harder to detect and destroy during wartime. A system that can move also allows a country to defend a wider area.
Reports suggest the launcher carries two launch tubes, each about 1.3 meters wide. The interceptor missiles themselves are estimated to be around 10.5 meters long. These are large missiles powered for high-speed flight into space.
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China’s state broadcaster says the HQ-29 can intercept missiles above 100 km, with some sources suggesting it may reach 500 km to 2,000 km in altitude and cover an estimated 4,000 km in range. The system uses hit-to-kill technology, relying on high-speed impact instead of explosives, which requires extremely precise tracking and guidance.
China has conducted seven tests of this mid-course interception technology since 2010, including a successful test in 2023. The HQ-29 may also be able to target low-Earth-orbit satellites under 2,000 km, though this capability has not been officially confirmed.
How the HQ-29 Compares to US Missile Interceptors
China’s HQ-29 is already being compared to two major American missile defense systems: the SM-3 and the Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI). These systems form the backbone of US mid-course missile defense.
US GBI vs. China’s HQ-29
The GBI is a large interceptor missile that the United States placed in fortified silos in Alaska starting in 2004. It has a very long interception range of more than 5,500 km, and it can target missiles travelling at altitudes up to around 1,500 km. This makes it one of the most powerful missile defense systems ever built.
However, the GBI comes with limitations. Because of its size, it must be launched from fixed underground silos. It cannot move, which means its position is always known, and its coverage area is fixed. The system is also extremely expensive, with each interceptor costing around US$150 million.
The HQ-29 does not match the GBI’s top range, but it introduces strengths of its own. Its mobile design is one of its biggest advantages. It can be moved, repositioned and redeployed in different directions. Chinese reports say the launcher can relocate within 30 minutes, which improves its chances of surviving an attack. It is also believed to be significantly cheaper to produce, allowing China to field more units for the same cost.
US SM-3 vs. China’s HQ-29
The SM-3 is a ship-launched interceptor used by the American Aegis missile defense system. The United States has around 400 of these interceptors. The SM-3 IIA version can reach altitudes near 1,000 km, but its interception range is around 2,500 km, which is lower than the estimated reach of the HQ-29.
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The SM-3 can also target low-Earth-orbit satellites, which makes it similar to the HQ-29 in this area. However, the biggest difference between the two systems is where they are deployed: SM-3 interceptors are used on warships, while the HQ-29 is a land-based mobile system.
Together, these comparisons show that the HQ-29 places China among the very few countries with a complete multi-layer missile defense system that covers everything from low-altitude threats to high-altitude space interceptions.